"S-So strong, Kushina!"
Mikoto's bright eyes shimmered with admiration.
"Ahaha, I'm not that strong!"
Kushina scratched the back of her head with a bashful smile.
Beside them, Yoru raised a thumb toward her with a grin.
"Hmph!"
Kushina wrinkled her cute nose in mock disdain—but as she turned away, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
After that, Yoru spent the rest of the time accompanying the two girls as they trained.
None of the three noticed that, off to the side, Kenjiro quietly slipped out of the school grounds.
…
"Alright, that's all for today! Be careful on your way home!"
Ignoring Nakamura Hino's muttering—
"Strange… where did Matsushita Kenjiro go?"—
the students began leaving in small groups.
"Kushina, come home with us," Mikoto said, walking over to her.
"C-Can I?"
Kushina's eyes lit up with joy.
She hadn't expected that on her very first day at the Academy—
She would already find friends to walk home with.
For someone who had been alone for so long—
This meant everything.
I'm really glad I met you, Mikoto… and…
"Of course you can, right, Yoru-kun?"
Mikoto smiled as she lightly nudged Yoru's arm.
"Ah, of course! It would be my honor to escort two such beautiful young ladies home."
Kushina's face turned slightly red.
"Don't mind him, Kushina. He likes saying things like that," Mikoto said, clearly used to it—though the faint smile in her eyes betrayed her feelings.
…
Yoru quietly watched as Mikoto and Kushina chatted happily along the way.
He had no idea how the two of them had so much to talk about—
But their bell-like laughter made his heart feel warm.
"Hey! You three brats over there!"
Moments like this never lasted long before someone came to ruin them.
Yoru and the others turned to look.
A teenage boy in ninja attire, wearing a Konoha forehead protector, stood there—around fifteen or sixteen years old.
Beside him—
Was Kenjiro, who had disappeared earlier.
"My name is Matsushita Kenrō," the boy said, pointing at Kenjiro. "His older brother."
"Red-haired brat… you've been taking good care of my little brother at school, haven't you?"
His tone was cold.
Now Yoru and the others understood—
Kenjiro had gone to find his older brother for revenge.
"My brother is a Genin who graduated years ago! You're done for, Tomato!"
Kenjiro shouted, though he flinched slightly under Kushina's glare before forcing himself to act tough again.
"This has nothing to do with them!"
Kushina stepped forward, spreading her arms to shield Yoru and Mikoto.
"If you have a problem, come at me!"
"Heh, well said."
Kenrō rolled his neck lazily.
"You two over there can leave. Don't get involved."
He waved dismissively at Yoru and Mikoto.
Then—
He raised his fist and moved toward Kushina.
Kushina instinctively shut her eyes.
Thud!
But the expected impact never came.
Slowly, she opened her eyes—
To see Yoru standing in front of her.
With one hand raised, he had blocked Kenrō's strike.
A long-forgotten feeling—
Of being protected—
Surged into Kushina's heart.
"Hey… you."
Yoru looked at Kenrō coldly, a dangerous smile forming on his lips.
"Did you think I wasn't here?"
"…Tch!"
Kenrō clicked his tongue, surprised.
Even though he hadn't used full strength—
That was still the attack of a seasoned Genin.
Not something a six-year-old should be able to stop.
"And another thing—"
Kenrō's expression twisted in irritation.
"I'm not some 'old man'! I'm only sixteen, you brat!"
He pulled his hand back and shouted.
"Doesn't matter to me," Yoru replied calmly, his gaze sharp.
"No matter your age… you're still just trash."
"…What did you say, you little brat?!"
Kenrō's anger flared instantly.
The air grew tense.